20mph limit to be enforced on 223 West Dunbartonshire roads

A number of objections to the enforcement were presented to the local authority's Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development (IRED) Committee, this week.

Of the 20 representations submitted, three were in support of the scheme whereas only two presented concerns.

One resident argued that the policy could increase journey times across the area if the speed limit is reduced.

A summary of the complaint reads: "[The resident] considers the proposed 20mph speed limit to be unnecessary and impractical for the area. They believe it will increase journey times, cause congestion, and negatively impact residents’ daily routines.

"The objector states that the existing 30mph limit is appropriate given the width, condition and visibility of the roads, low pedestrian activity, and an apparent long-term absence of collision history.

"They also raised concerns that modern vehicle safety systems reduce the need for lower speed limits and argue that enforcement of a 20mph limit would be disproportionate.

"The objector suggests that parking issues associated with school activity are the primary traffic problem in the area and should be addressed instead of introducing a lower speed limit."

READ MORE: List of residential streets where 20mph zones to be brought in revealed

Road officers say they spoke with the objector to explain that such programmes where speeds on residential roads have been reduced have led to a mere three percent increase in travel time, which typically form the start or end of journeys.

(Image: Newsquest)

Residents who said they were in favour of the new speed limit raised their reasons why, which included the frequent speeding on residential streets, concerns for pedestrian and child safety particularly on routes used by school pupils, and potential benefits in reducing traffic noise.

Councillor Lauren Oxley added: "I've had a couple of concerns brought to me by residents about the proposals in Bowling and Old Kilpatrick, including the fact that many of the streets identified already have existing traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, where others are so narrow that vehicles are not travelling over 10 mph a lot of the time."

Addressing Oxley's concerns, Liam Greene, Roads and Transport Manager, said: "Yes, it's due to the nature in which we've promoted the orders. There will be streets within that area which are already subject to speed control measures.

"However, the way we are doing it is to stop having is to prevent having a street where you're going from 20mph, then at 30mph, then into 20mph."

After the go-ahead was agreed for the scheme, Greene provided an update as to a proposed timeline for implementation.

He added: "We'd be in a period of promoting and advising residents that the 20mph would be implemented, and we'd be looking for a sort of implementation of about eight weeks.

“The order that we've promoted still has to be confirmed, so there's a legal process involved in that, which is why we've allowed ourselves that eight-week period.

“With the funding that we received, we've purchased a number of 20mph repeater signs and we've already undertaken a lot of upgrades to the road markings in these areas.”